Rug-straightener.



Patented luly 2, 190|.

l G. T. WEEKS. RUG STRAIGHTENER.

' (Application med Apr. s, 1901.

(No Model.)

/N VEN TOR @adige Zv Wl TNE SSE S UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. WEEKS, OE EDON, OHIO.

GHTENER.

Patent No. 677,725, dated July 2, 1901.

serial No. 54,864.' or@ model.)

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. VEEKS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Edon, lin the county of lVilliams and State of Ohio,haveinvented a new and Improved Rug- Straightener, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple, andinexpensive device which is quickly attachable upon the lower side of arug and that affords convenient and reliable means for straightening therug, rendering it flat, prevents the ends or corners of the rug fromturning np, and serves io hold the rug where it is placed.

A further object is to provide a light eX- tensible frame forstraightening a pliable rug, which frame is attachable to and readilyremovable from the rug to permit shaking and beating ofthe rug to cleanit.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafterdescribed,and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specilication, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the lower side of a rug and of theimprovement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a modifiedconstruction of the rug-straightener. Fig. 3 is a plan view of anothermodification; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of one end of a rug and of thestraightening device, showing a preferred means for detachablyconnecting said device with the lower side of the rug near a cornerthereof.

Theinvention, broadly considered, consists in assembling a plurality ofrods or fiat strips of wood or metal so that they aiord a lightextensible frame connectible at the ends of said frame with a rug on itslower side and near the corners, the extension and subsequent securingof the members of the frame in extended adjustment serving tocorrespondingly' straighten the rug and prevent it from turning up atthe ends or corners when in position on a floor for service.

One plan for arranging the members of the improved straightening deviceis represented in Fig. 1, and consists of four flat strips 5, of

metal or .other suitable material, having a length proportioned to thearea of the rug. The members of each pair of strips 5 cross each otherat their longitudinal centers and are pivoted together where they haveengagement, as indicated at a.

Upon the lower side of the ru'g A, which is to have the improvedstraightening device applied thereto, four keepers ZJ b' in pocket forniare secured near each side edge of the rug. One of said keeper-pocketsZ) is located near each corner of the rug A, and like ends of thecross-bars or strips 5 of each pairof strips are inserted into the twoopposite pockets at the same end of the rug. The two remaining pocketsb, near each side of the rug, are evenly spaced from the like pocketsthat are located near the corners at each side thereof. The length ofthe strips 5 in each crossed pair is such as will adapt their remainingends to enter appropriate pockets b' when the rug is sufficientlystretched to remove wrinkles and render the rug Hat.

It will be seen that if the strips 5 are inelastic the tension of thestretched rug will retain the ends of the crossed strips 5 within thekeeper-pockets b b', but will not prevent their removal therefrom if thematerial of the rug at said pockets is bent to carry the free edges ofthe pockets away from the ends of the strips, and the attachment of theends of the strips may obviously be effected if the rug is in alikemanner manipulated to bend it and throw the free edges of thekeeper-pockets outward.

In Fig. 2 the four members of the straightening device are representedin rod form, each rod or bar 5 having a ring-eye cformed on each endthereof. The rods 5L in this construction of the device are crossed inpairs at their longitudinal centers and may be held together where theycross by a wire or cord wrapped around at the crossing-point of eachpair, as indicated at d in Fig. 2.

In applying the straightening device illustrated in Fig. 2 the outerends of each pair of crossed rods are sewed upon the under side of therug near the respective corners of the same, and then the rug isstraightened by IOO the application of inward pressure upon the crossedinner ends of the rods, which ends are then sewed at the ring-eyes cupon the fabric of the rug While it is properlystretched l the cornersof the rug, or said ends may have or straightened.

In Fig. 3 the device is shown as `formed of ilat strips, which may haveperforations e near their ends for attachment to the lower. side of therug, or such perforations may be dispensed with and the pockets b In beprovided. As shown in Fig. 3, the flat strips 5b have lapped contact inpairs near their inner ends, their main portions divergin g sufficientlyto enter the pockets b b', that are secured at suitable points on thelower side of the rug.

If the straightening device is formed of metal either in strip or rodform, the material should be sufficiently resilient to adapt suchmembers of the device to spring back into normal straight condition, ifbent so as to bow them, and it will be evident that the strips or rods,if formed of spring metal, will permit their ends to be introduced intopockets, such as b b', when the strips or rods are bent, theirsubsequentresumption of straight form serving to straighten the rug they areapplied upon and keep it in flat condition.

It is to be understood that if the rug is of moderate area but one pairof crossed stretcher members need be employed, which in this case Willcross each other at their centers of length and have their endsrespectively introduced into appropriate pockets at eyes or perforationsfor a sewed attachment through them and upon the lower side of the rug.It is also to be understood that any suitable member of the rods orstrips may be employed to straighten rugs of different lengths.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a rug havingkeeper-pockets on its lower side near the corners thereof, of resilientstretcher l'members adapted to engage their ends Within thekeeper-pockets and hold the rug straight.

2. The combination with a rug having a 'plurality of keeper-pockets onthe lower side thereof at the corners and near the side edges, of aplurality of resilient stretcher members, which are crossed in pairs andhave their ends engaged with the keeper-pockets, said members when instraight condition serving to straighten the rug.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE T. \VEEKS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE M. SWANEY, M. E. ToWNsEND.

